The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Blu-ray set officially announced, arrives June 28th (video)

Warner has finally released the details on its upcoming 15-disc (six on Blu-ray, plus nine DVDs) Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition Blu-ray package, setting a release date of June 28th. If the extra few hours of footage isn't enough for you to preorder the $120 MSRP / $84 Amazon set, there's more than 26 hours of special features included although most of them are restricted to the DVDs. Each movie is spread across two Blu-ray discs and has a 6.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack, while Fellowship of the Ring has been treated to a remastering from the original 2K digital files. It's a little disappointing there aren't more HD extras mentioned but each Blu-ray is BD-Live enabled, we wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of teaser hit before The Hobbit arrives in theaters. Check out the full press release and trailer after the break.

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THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ MOTION PICTURE TRILOGY: EXTENDED EDITIONON BLU-RAY™ FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO JUNE 28

Extended Versions of all Three Films on 15 DiscsWith More Than 26 Hours of Special Features Including theCosta Botes Documentaries

Burbank, Calif, March 21, 2011 – Following last year's successful Blu-ray premiere of the original theatrical versions of The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy, Warner Home Video will release all three of Peter Jackson's visual masterpieces in their extended editions on June 28 as a stunning 15-disc Blu-ray collection, The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition (Blu-ray).

One of the most magical, intensely spectacular epic adventures in motion picture history comes alive when these extended editions explode onto Blu-ray with unsurpassed high definition picture and sound. Sound + Vision Magazine ranked the 2010 release of the Trilogy as #5 in their Top 10 Blu-rays of the Year, noting that it was one of only two releases to earn five stars for sound and calling it "breathtaking." Now fans can see and hear the extended trilogy at home the way it was meant to be seen, on Blu-ray Hi-Def. Based on the length of each extended edition feature film and in order to present each film in the highest possible picture quality, each film is presented on 2 Blu-ray Discs.

The Lord of the Rings franchise's popularity continues unabated, with pre-sales response soaring. The official Facebook page (facebook.com/lordoftheringstrilogy) has reached more than 4 million friends and boasts an average 1M comments per post. The page includes updated insider information, Trivia Tuesdays, Caption This! posts, clips, trailers, sweepstakes, promotions photo galleries and more. Also featured, a new application that will allow fans to generate their very own 'Elvish' name, to be available soon.

This highly anticipated Extended Edition (Blu-ray) set will be released in English 6.1 DTS-HD MA audio and includes a newtransfer of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring which was remastered from the original 2k digital files. The set boasts more than 26 hours of additional content, highlighted by the rare behind-the-scenes documentaries created by Costa Botes, the filmmaker given unprecedented access to the set of each production by Peter Jackson. Costa Botes was able to capture raw and riveting behind-the-scenes film footage. His unique approach to storytelling – allowing the footage to speak for itself – results in an intimate and candid backstage pass to the challenges, preparations and camaraderie that went into shooting one of the greatest cinematic adventures of all time. The feature-length documentaries, with more than four and a half hours of footage, focus on a number of complexities and circumstances that tested the filmmakers, cast and crew during the shoot, as well as a look at some of the comical antics and personal moments on the set. The Costa Botes documentaries accompany acclaimed special features by Michael Pellerin from the original extended cut releases to make this the most

comprehensive The Lord of the Rings compilation ever. (All three DVDs were honored with Saturn Award wins for Best DVD in their release years - 2002, 2003 & 2004, plus multiple trade awards).

The Oscar®-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy, revered as one of the most thrilling epic adventures in motion picture history and one of the highest grossing adventure film franchises to ever be created, was born with the release of The Fellowship of the Ring™, followed by The Two Towers™ and The Return of the King™. Now they are offered on Blu-ray with more than 2 hours of extended scenes that were carefully selected under the supervision of director Peter Jackson.

Out of the 30 total Academy Award nominations received, The Lord of the Rings movies won a record 17 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and 8 others for the third film. Based on the best-selling novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson's movie trilogy is an epic journey of men, hobbits, elves, dwarves and the rest of Middle-earth's creatures and cultures. The films chronicle the struggle of good versus evil with fantastic special effects and a strong emotional center; capturing the enduring fellowship and ultimate sacrifice while enhancing the chaos and destruction of Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition (Blu-ray) will be packaged in multi-disc elite packaging inside a premium rigid slipcase and will retail for $119.98 SRP. Orders are due May 24, 201 1.

Additionally, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has teamed up with top licensees Games Workshop Ltd., Tonner Doll Company, Inc., Sideshow Collectibles, NECA, The Noble Collection, WETA, Pez Candy, Funko, LLC, Bioworld Merchandising Inc. and WMS Gaming to create an array of merchandise support for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, including apparel and accessories, novelties and collectibles, stationery and paper goods, toys and games.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is an intense Action RPG video game based on the renowned works of J.R.R. Tolkien and will launch in 2011 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows® in 2011. Evolving the RPG genre through innovative online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players who form their own Fellowship, this game breaks new ground as the first The Lord of the Ringsvideo game to embrace the gritty and brutal reality of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Exploring previously unseen lands, storylines and characters as well as those familiar from past feature films, gamers experience expansive co-op gameplay and upgradeable weapons, character customization and development, skills and special abilities. Gamers must play together or perish as they work to defeat Sauron's forces in the North. Learn more at www.warinthenorth.com

About the Trilogy and the Films

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy tells the story of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a hobbit who battles against the Dark Lord Sauron to save his world, Middle-earth, from the grip of evil. In the films, Frodo and his fellowship of friends and allies embark on a desperate journey to rid Middle-earth of the source of Sauron's greatest strength, The One™ Ring -- a ring that has the power to enslave the inhabitants of Middle-earth. The trilogy tells tales of extraordinary adventures across the treacherous landscape of Middle-earth and reveals how the power of friendship, love and courage can hold the forces of darkness at bay. Beside Wood, the films star Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, featuring Sean Bean and Ian Holm, with Andy Serkis as Gollum. The films also star Marton Csokas, Craig Parker and Lawrence Makaoare.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingIn this first part of the Trilogy, the young hobbit Frodo Baggins inherits a ring; but this ring is no mere trinket. It is the One Ring, an instrument of absolute power that could allow Sauron, the dark Lord of Mordor, to rule Middle-earth and enslave its peoples. Frodo, together with a Fellowship that includes his loyal hobbit friends, humans, a wizard, a dwarf and an elf, must take the One Ring across Middle-earth to Mount Doom, where it first was forged, and destroy it forever. Such a journey means venturing deep into territory manned by Sauron, where he is amassing his army of Orcs. And it is not only external evils that the Fellowship must combat, but also internal dissension and the corrupting influence of the One Ring itself. The course of future history is entwined with the fate of the Fellowship. The film won four Oscars® for Best Visual Effects, Cinematography, Makeup and Original Score.

Special Features:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray)· The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Feature Extended Edition Part 1· The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – The Untold Story Trailer· Commentary with Director & Writers· Commentary with Design Team· Commentary with Production and Post Production· Commentary with Cast· BD-Live™ enabled

Disc 2 (Blu-ray)· The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Feature Extended Edition Part 2· Commentary with Director & Writers· Commentary with Design Team· Commentary with Production and Post Production· Commentary with Cast· BD-Live™ enabled

Disc 3 (DVD)· The Appendices Part 1 From Book to Vision· Peter Jackson Introduction· JRR Tolkien: Creator of Middle-earth· From Book To Script· Visualizing the Story· Designing and Building Middle-earth· Middle-earth Atlas Interactive· New Zealand and Middle-earth Interactive

Disc 4 (DVD)· The Appendices Part Two From Vision to Reality· Elijah Wood Introduction· Filming The Fellowship of the Ring· Visual Effects· Post Production: Putting It All Together· Digital Grading· Sound and Music· The Road Goes Ever On...

Disc 5 (DVD)· Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Created by Filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersIn their parallel journeys, the Fellowship will stand against the powerful forces spreading from the Two Towers -- Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where Saruman has bred a lethal army of 10,000 strong; and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dûr, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers culminates in the astonishing battle for the refuge, Helm's Deep, the Kingdom of Rohan's ancient large stone fortress, besieged by Uruk-hai warriors. The film won two Oscars: Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

Special Features:

Disc 6 (Blu-ray)· The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Feature Extended Edition Part 1· The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – The Untold Story Trailer· Commentary with Director & Writers· Commentary with Design Team· Commentary with Production and Post Production· Commentary with Cast· BD-Live™ enabled

Disc 7 (Blu-ray)· The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Feature Extended Edition Part 2· Commentary with Director & Writers· Commentary with Design Team· Commentary with Production and Post Production· Commentary with Cast· BD-Live™ enabled

Disc 8 (DVD)· The Appendices Part 3: The Journey Continues· Peter Jackson Introduction· JRR Tolkien: Origin of Middle-earth· From Book to Script: Finding the Story· Designing and Building Middle-earth· Gollum· Middle-earth Atlas Interactive· New Zealand as Middle-earth

Disc 9 (DVD)· The Appendices Part 4: The Battle for Middle-earth· Elijah Wood Introduction· Filming The Two Towers· Visual Effects· Editorial: Refining the Story· Music and Sound· The Battle for Helm's Deep is Over...

Disc 10 (DVD)· Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Created by Filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingThe final battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin), led by the mysterious Gollum (Andy Serkis), continue their dangerous mission toward the fires of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) struggles to fulfill his legacy as he leads his outnumbered followers against the growing power of the Dark Lord Sauron, so that the Ring-bearer may complete his quest. The film, which won Academy Awards® in all 11 categories for which it was nominated, took wins for Best Picture, Director, Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Visual Effects, Makeup, Adapted Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Original Song and Original Score.

Special Features:

Disc 11 (Blu-ray)· The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Feature Extended Edition Part 1· The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – The Untold Story Trailer· Commentary with Director & Writers· Commentary with Design Team· Commentary with Production and Post Production· Commentary with Cast· BD-Live™ enabled

Disc 12 (Blu-ray)· The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King Feature Extended Edition Part 2· Commentary with Director & Writers· Commentary with Design Team· Commentary with Production and Post Production· BD-Live™ enabled

Disc 13 (DVD)· The Appendices Part 5: The War of the Ring· Peter Jackson Introduction· JRR Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth· From Book to Script· Designing and Building Middle-earth· Home of the Horse Lords· Middle-earth Atlas· New Zealand as Middle-earth

Disc 14 (DVD)· The Appendices Part 6: The Passing of an Age· Introduction· Filming The Return of the King· Visual Effects· Post-Production: Journey's End· The Passing of an Age· Cameron Duncan: The Inspiration for Into the West

Disc 15 (DVD)· Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Created by Filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Warner Home Video Blu-ray™ Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The format also provides a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

About Warner Home VideoWith operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.

Warner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.